Burlington

CompleteStreetsGuidance

Navigating the Mandatory Reporting Requirement of Act 34

Provided by the Department of Public Works

Distribution: Director of Public Works, DPW Assistant Directors, DPW Office of Plangineering, DPW Traffic Division, DPW Streets Division, Director of CEDO, CEDO Special Projects Manager, Office of Mayor Miro Weinberger, Office of the Clerk/Treasurer, Office of the City Attorney, Parks and Recreation, Burlington Electric, Burlington Fire Department, Planning and Zoning

Complete Streets Implementation Guidance, January 2013 1

Purpose

1. Ensure compliance with Act No. 34 (effective July 1, 2011), “an act relating to a transportation policy that considers all users” by providing guidance, interpretation, and reporting tools for municipal use.

2. Implement transportation projects in accordance with the City of Burlington 2011 Transportation Plan, which follows a complete streets strategy and Street Design Guidelines.

Introduction to Act 34

Pursuant to Act 34, all transportation projects and project phases managed by a municipality – including planning, development, construction, or maintenance –must consider “complete streets” principles, which are principles of safety and accommodation of all transportation system users, regardless of age, ability, or modal preference; except projects or project components involving unpaved highways. If, after the consideration required by Act 34, a project does not incorporate complete streets principles, the municipality shall make a written determination that one or more of the following circumstances exist:

1. Use of the transportation facility by pedestrians, bicyclists, or other users is prohibited by law.

2. The cost of incorporating complete streets principles is disproportionate to the need or probable use as determined by factors such as land use, current and projected user volumes, population density, crash data, historic and natural resource constraints, and maintenance requirements. The municipality shall consult local and regional plans, as appropriate, in assessing these and any other relevant factors.

3. Incorporating complete streets principles is outside the scope of a project because of its very nature.

The written determination must be supported by documentation and available for public inspection at the office of the municipal clerk and at the agency of transportation. This determination shall be final and not subject to appeal or further review.

Introduction to City Policy

Adoption of the 2011 Transportation Plan requires a different way of planning for transportation in Burlington. The Plan is directed at promoting a Strong and Healthy City, Transportation Choices, and Great Streets. To develop Great Streets, transportation planning has shifted to a complete streets strategy and new Street Design Guidelines. Streets are classified beyond the traditional identification of local, collector, primary or arterial streets and now focus on Complete Streets, Transit Streets, Bicycle Streets, Slow Streets, Truck Routes, and Neighborhood Streets. The Street

Complete Streets Implementation Guidance, January 2013 2

Design Guidelines provide a description of complete streets features that should be considered for each class of streets in Burlington. In 2012 the City of Burlington was a recipient of a Sustainable Communities Building Blocks grant through the Environmental Protection Agency. After a full-day workshop with local decisionmakers and stakeholders, a “Next Steps Memorandum” was provided to summarize the key issues identified at the workshop and key strategies for complete streets implementation. The city will continue to work on comprehensive actions for implementation of our complete streets strategy, including attention on engagement, education, and engineering actions.

The Project Review Process

It is the responsibility of the City to consider complete streets principles unless a project meets one of the three exemptions under Act 34 (as described on page 1). The attached Complete Streets Toolbox for Burlington will help city staff and design teams understand and document the process of considering complete street principles on Burlington streets. The Complete Streets Toolbox for Burlington includes three components:

1. Project Reporting (Form CS-1) – a required document if complete streets principles will not be included in a project;

2. Street Design Guidelines Worksheet (Form CS-2) – a street-by-street analysis to identify features to be considered;

3. Cost Disproportionate to Need Worksheet (Form CS-3) – a required to document if complete streets principles will not be included due to cost.

COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT REPORTING FORM Form CS-1

A transportation project may be considered as involving full depth construction, extensive earthwork, impacts to adjacent resources, involvement of multiples departments / agencies / divisions, and/or having a project budget approved by a governing body.

Project Name Project Manager and Department Date Filepath Complete Streets principles WERE considered.

Form CS-2 attached

Complete Streets principles WERE NOT considered. This project is exempt because:(Check ONE)

Use of the facility by pedestrians, bicyclists, or other users is prohibited by law.

Identify the limited access roadway:

The cost of incorporating Complete Streets principles is disproportionate to the need or

probable use of the facility. Form CS-3 attached

The project scope of work was approved prior to July 1, 2011.

Identify the project: The following activities are outside the scope of a transportation project and are not reported: Pothole patching / roadway preventative maintenance, shim paving, traffic signal upgrades to LED bulbs, sidewalk repair, catchbasin repair or installation, street sweeping or plowing, roadside mowing or trimming, sign replacement or installation, electrical upgrades, and emergency repairs. This form was distributed: Click here to enter a date. Clerk / Treasurer’s Office, Attn: Lori Olberg Click here to enter a date. Agency of Transportation, Attn: Chris Cole

STREET DESIGN GUIDELINES WORKSHEET -This is only guide. It is intended to quicklynavigate the Street Design Guidelines andensure basic features are considered; thisshould not be considered an inclusivechecklist.

Instructions1. This worksheet is organized by Street

Classification. Each street or street segment is listed under the appropriate section.

2. Find your project site on the map below or on the attached worksheets.

3. Using the form for your project’s street classification, consider the complete street principles listed. Refer to the Street Design Guidelines for additional detail on the individual features of complete streets.

4. If a feature should be considered but can’t be included, note the reason.

Form CS-2C Complete Streets

Form CS-2T Transit Streets

Form CS-2B Bicycle Streets

Form CS-2S Slow Streets

Form CS-2SR/NC State Truck Routes

Form CS-2N Neighborhood Streets

STREET CLASSIFICATION COMPLETE STREETS

The project is located on: North Avenue* from Northgate Road to its southern end

Colchester Avenue*

Main Street** from University Terrace to the South Burlington town line

South Winooski Avenue from Main Street to Pearl Street

Battery Street from Sherman Street to Main Street

Pine Street from Lakeside Avenue to Kilburn Street

Shelburne Street*/** from Howard Street to the South Burlington town line * Also refer to Neighborhood Transition Centers (CS-2NC) **Also refer to State Truck Routes (CS-2SR) The following features should be considered on Burlington’s Complete Streets

Sidewalks both sides of the street, or at least one side

of the street on Neighborhood Streets 5’ minimum in residential areas

>5’ in neighborhood centers and high density residential

8’ – 10’ on Slow Streets

5’ clear zone NOTES:

Tree Belt 5’ minimum

2’ minimum for snow storage

structural soil in neighborhood centers, high density residential

NOTES:

Street Trees hardscape or tree grates for passenger

loading/unloading NOTES:

Parking back-in angled or parallel if next to bike

lanes NOTES:

Furniture benches

kiosks

bike racks NOTES:

Street Lighting

ornamental light fixtures at gateways

ornamental and 10’ – 14’ high light fixtures in neighborhood centers, pedestrian promenades, college campus networks, high-pedestrian zones and Slow Streets

NOTES:

Transit Shelters (at stops with high ridership) outside of 5’ clear zone

benches

lighting

street trees

pedestrian-scale signs NOTES:

Vehicle lanes

Complete Streets: 10’ – 11’ NOTES:

Form CS-2C STREET CLASSIFICATION COMPLETE STREETS

Bike Lanes 5’ minimum

6’ minimum next to parking lane

green bike lane for complex areas

bike safe drain grates

30’ two-way street with parking: widen street by 5’ for single-direction bike lane

30’ two-way street without parking: two single-direction bike lanes (in each direction)

30’ one-way street with parking: two single-direction bike lanes (in each direction)

40’ two-way street with parking: two single-direction bike lanes (in each direction)

at intersections with right turn lane, stripe through bike lane to the left of the turn lane

NOTES: Two-way left turn lane

Considered NOTES:

Curb radii

10’ – 15’ NOTES:

Crosswalks at each intersection

special pavement treatment at high volume crossings (if textured, only smooth)

every 300’ – 400’ NOTES:

Medians or refuge islands

at mid-block location: 6’ x 20’ minimum with 5’ pedestrian path

landscaped refuge island (not paved) NOTES:

Mid-block Crosswalks warranted by pedestrian volumes

6’ – 10’ wide

ladder, zebra, fully painted, or colored and textured bounded by white

raised crossing

Z-crossing if median or refuge provided

Signage and/or signage with warning lights NOTES:

Stormwater Planter

in place of greenbelt on level streets NOTES:

Porous Paving

within on-street parking lane NOTES:

Traffic Calming should be included on all streets with existing traffic calming features or on streets with an assessed need for traffic calming

speed tables and raised crosswalks at mid-block locations

raised intersections, calming two streets at once

colored / textured pavement for prominent pedestrian zones

neighborhood traffic circles / intersection island, calming two streets at once

chicanes

pedestrian refuges or center islands, for refuge or gateway treatment

curb extensions or chokers, at intersections or mid-block

NOTES:

STREET CLASSIFICATION TRANSIT STREETS

This project is on: Saint Paul Street from Main Street to Howard Street

Kilburn Street

Main Street** from Battery Street to University Terrace

Pearl Street from Battery Street North Prospect Street

Plattsburg Avenue **Also refer to State Truck Route Worksheet

The following features should be considered on Burlington’s Transit Streets Sidewalks

both sides of the street, or at least one side of the street on Neighborhood Streets

5’ minimum in residential areas

> 5’ in neighborhood centers and high density residential

8’ – 10’ on Slow Streets

5’ clear zone NOTES:

Tree Belt

5’ minimum

2’ minimum for snow storage

structural soil in neighborhood centers, high density residential

NOTES: Street Trees

hardscape or tree grates for passenger loading/unloading

NOTES: Street Lighting

ornamental light fixtures at gateways

ornamental and 10’ – 14’ high light fixtures in neighborhood centers, pedestrian promenades, college campus networks, high-pedestrian zones and Slow Streets

NOTES:

Furniture

benches

kiosks

bike racks NOTES:

Transit Shelters (at stops with high ridership)

outside of 5’ clear zone

benches

lighting

street trees

pedestrian-scale signs NOTES:

Transit Stops

placed in front of crosswalks

100’ – 140’ curbside for streets with higher lower volume

bus bulbs (6’ x 35’) for streets with higher traffic volume, high transit ridership, crowded sidewalks and/or inadequate space for transit stop amenities

100’ – 140’ bus turnouts for transit stops with longer dwell times

NOTES:

Form CS-2T STREET CLASSIFICATION TRANSIT STREETS

Queue Jump Lanes shared with right turn lane at intersection,

with stop across intersection NOTES:

Parking:

removed at transit stops

back-in angled or parallel if next to bike lanes

NOTES: Vehicle lanes

Transit Streets and Truck Routes: 10’ – 12’ NOTES:

Crosswalks

at each intersection

special pavement treatment at high volume crossings (if textured, only smooth)

every 300’ – 400’ NOTES:

Medians or refuge islands

at mid-block location: 6’ x 20’ minimum with 5’ pedestrian path

landscaped refuge island (not paved) NOTES:

Mid-block Crosswalks

warranted by pedestrian volumes

6’ – 10’ wide

ladder, zebra, fully painted, or colored and textured bounded by white

raised crossing

Z-crossing if median or refuge provided

Signage and/or signage with warning lights NOTES:

Curb radii 10’ – 15’

NOTES: Curb Extensions

Considered NOTES:

Traffic Calming should be included on all streets with existing traffic calming features or on streets with an assessed need for traffic calming

speed tables and raised crosswalks at mid-block locations

raised intersections, calming two streets at once

colored / textured pavement for prominent pedestrian zones

neighborhood traffic circles / intersection island, calming two streets at once

chicanes

pedestrian refuges or center islands, for refuge or gateway treatment

curb extensions or chokers, at intersections or mid-block

NOTES:

STREET CLASSIFICATION BICYCLE STREETS

This project is on: Pine Street from Lakeside Avenue to Queen City Park Road and from Kilburn Street to Maple Street

South Winooski Avenue from Howard Street to Main Street

North Winooski Avenue*/**

South Union Street

North Union Street

South Willard Street** from Main Street to North Street

Mansfield Avenue

College Street from South Winooski Avenue to South Prospect Street

North Street*

Riverside Avenue*/**

Intervale Road

Route 127 entrance to and including Ethan Allen Homestead

* Also refer to Neighborhood Transition Centers (CS-2NC) **Also refer to State Truck Routes (CS-2SR) The following features should be considered on Burlington’s Bicycle Streets Sidewalks

both sides of the street, or at least one side of the street on Neighborhood Streets

5’ minimum in residential areas

> 5’ in neighborhood centers and high density residential

8’ – 10’ on Slow Streets

5’ clear zone NOTES:

Tree Belt

5’ minimum

2’ minimum for snow storage

structural soil in neighborhood centers, high density residential

NOTES:

Street Trees

hardscape or tree grates for passenger loading/unloading

NOTES: Street Lighting

ornamental light fixtures at gateways

ornamental and 10’ – 14’ high light fixtures in neighborhood centers, pedestrian promenades, college campus networks, high-pedestrian zones and Slow Streets

NOTES:

Furniture benches

kiosks

bike racks NOTES:

Form CS-2B STREET CLASSIFICATION BICYCLE STREETS

Bike Lanes 5’ minimum

6’ minimum next to parking lane

green bike lane for complex areas

bike safe drain grates

30’ two-way street with parking: widen street by 5’ for single-direction bike lane

30’ two-way street without parking: two single-direction bike lanes (in each direction)

30’ one-way street with parking: two single-direction bike lanes (in each direction)

40’ two-way street with parking: two single-direction bike lanes (in each direction)

at intersections with right turn lane, stripe through bike lane to the left of the turn lane

NOTES:

Vehicle lanes Bicycle Streets: 10’

NOTES:

Transit Shelters (at stops with high ridership) outside of 5’ clear zone

benches

lighting

street trees

pedestrian-scale signs NOTES:

Parking: back-in angled or parallel if next to bike

lanes NOTES:

Traffic Calming should be included on all streets with existing traffic calming features or on streets with an assessed need for traffic calming

speed tables and raised crosswalks at mid-block locations

raised intersections, calming two streets at once

colored / textured pavement for prominent pedestrian zones

neighborhood traffic circles / intersection island, calming two streets at once

chicanes

pedestrian refuges or center islands, for refuge or gateway treatment

curb extensions or chokers, at intersections or mid-block

NOTES:

STREET CLASSIFICATION SLOW STREETS

The project is on: Maple Street from South Winooski Street to its western terminus

King Street from South Winooski Street to its western terminus

College Street from South Winooski Street to its western terminus

Bank Street

Cherry Street

Lake Street

The following features should be considered on Burlington’s Slow Streets Sidewalks

both sides of the street, or at least one side of the street on Neighborhood Streets

5’ minimum in residential areas

> 5’ in neighborhood centers and high density residential

8’ – 10’ on Slow Streets

5’ clear zone NOTES:

Tree Belt

5’ minimum

2’ minimum for snow storage

structural soil in neighborhood centers, high density residential

NOTES: Street Trees

hardscape or tree grates for passenger loading/unloading

NOTES: Furniture

benches

kiosks

bike racks NOTES:

Street Lighting

ornamental light fixtures at gateways

ornamental and 10’ – 14’ high light fixtures in neighborhood centers, pedestrian promenades, college campus networks, high-pedestrian zones and Slow Streets

NOTES: Transit Shelters (at stops with high ridership)

outside of 5’ clear zone

benches

lighting

street trees

pedestrian-scale signs NOTES:

Vehicle lanes

Slow Streets: 10’ – 12’, greater for higher mix of uses

NOTES: Crosswalks

at each intersection

special pavement treatment at high volume crossings (if textured, only smooth)

every 300’ – 400’ NOTES:

Form CS-2S STREET CLASSIFICATION SLOW STREETS

Mid-block Crosswalks warranted by pedestrian volumes

6’ – 10’ wide

ladder, zebra, fully painted, or colored and textured bounded by white

raised crossing

Z-crossing if median or refuge provided

Signage and/or signage with warning lights NOTES:

Parking:

back-in angled or parallel if next to bike lanes

removed at transit stops

parking meters behind tree belt, centralized pay stations

NOTES: Curb radii

10’ – 15’ NOTES:

Curb Extensions

Considered NOTES:

Stormwater Planter in place of greenbelt on level streets

NOTES: Porous Paving

within on-street parking lane NOTES:

Enhanced Intersection

raised

special paving treatments and/or colors

curb extensions with bollards NOTES:

Traffic Calming should be included on all streets with existing traffic calming features or on streets with an assessed need for traffic calming

speed tables and raised crosswalks at mid-block locations

raised intersections, calming two streets at once

colored / textured pavement for prominent pedestrian zones

neighborhood traffic circles / intersection island, calming two streets at once

chicanes

pedestrian refuges or center islands, for refuge or gateway treatment

curb extensions or chokers, at intersections or mid-block

NOTES:

-

STATE TRUCK ROUTES

The project is on: Shelburne Street

Willard Street

Main Street

Riverside Avenue

North Winooski Avenue

The following features should beconsidered: Vehicle lanes

Truck Routes: 10’ – 12’ NOTES:

NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSITION CENTERS The project is located at:

North Avenue at Plattsburg Avenue

North Avenue from Ethan Allen Shopping Center

to Ethan Allen Parkway

Riverside Avenue / Colchester Avenue

intersection

Shelburne Street from Birchcliff Parkway to

Lyman Avenue

Shelburne Street from Home Avenue to the

South Burlington town line

North Street from North Avenue to North

Winooski Avenue

North Winooski Avenue from North Street to

Riverside Avenue

The following features should beconsidered

bus bulbouts / curbside transit stops

curb extensions

shared lane markings and signs replace bike lanes

structural soil and street trees

pedestrian-scale lighting, furniture, plantings, and sidewalk patterns

on-street parking NOTES:

Form CS-2N STREET CLASSIFICATION NEIGHBORHOOD STREET

Any street not listed above.Street Name: The following features should be considered on Burlington’s Neighborhood Streets Sidewalks

both sides of the street, or at least one side of the street on Neighborhood Streets

5’ minimum in residential areas

> 5’ in neighborhood centers and high density residential

8’ – 10’ on Slow Streets

5’ clear zone NOTES:

Tree Belt

5’ minimum

2’minimum for snow storage

structural soil in neighborhood centers, high density residential

NOTES:

Street Trees hardscape or tree grates for passenger

loading/unloading NOTES:

Transit Shelters (at stops with high ridership)

outside of 5’ clear zone

benches

lighting

street trees

pedestrian-scale signs NOTES:

Parking:

back-in angled or parallel if next to bike lanes

NOTES: Transit Stops

placed in front of crosswalks

100’ – 140’ curbside for streets with higher lower volume

bus bulbs (6’ x 35’) for streets with higher traffic volume, high transit ridership, crowded sidewalks and/or inadequate space for transit stop amenities

100’ – 140’ bus turnouts for transit stops with longer dwell times

NOTES: Traffic Calming should be included on all streets with existing traffic calming features or on streets with an assessed need for traffic calming

speed tables and raised crosswalks at mid-block locations

raised intersections, calming two streets at once

colored / textured pavement for prominent pedestrian zones

neighborhood traffic circles / intersection island, calming two streets at once

chicanes

pedestrian refuges or center islands, for refuge or gateway treatment

curb extensions or chokers, at intersections or mid-block

NOTES:

DOCUMENTING COST DISPROPORTIONATE TO NEED FORM CS-3

InstructionsIf the cost of including complete streets features outweighs the need or probable use of the facility, project teams should provide adequate detail to support that determination. The analysis should consider access, safety and mobility for all current and future users. This worksheet is required if the cost of incorporating complete streets principles is disproportionate to the need or probable use, resulting in a project that does not incorporate complete streets principles. The final determination shall be approved by the Public Works Commission and is not subject to appeal. Be concise yet descriptive.

OBTAIN LOCAL AND/OR REGIONAL PLANS

Municipal Development Plan (including the 2011 Transportation Plan)

Plan BTV

Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan

Chittenden County Regional Plan

Metropolitan Transportation Plan

Scoping, Feasibility, Corridor or other project reports List:

Other:

Identify the multi-modal status of the project site as recommended in the planning documents: Describe the current and future land use and density (population and development):

Project Name

Project Manager and Department

Date

Public Works Commission approval date

Other information relevant to this project:

OBTAIN TRANSPORTATION DATA

Describe the Street Classification recommended in the Transportation Plan: Describe the existing and future pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities : Describe the current and projected traffic volumes: Describe current and projected pedestrian and bicycle volumes: Describe crash data for the project area:

OBTAIN TRANSPORTATION FACTORS

Describe the existing right-of-way dimensions and use: Describe the surrounding economic development: Describe the nearby origins and destinations and the aesthetic environment: Describe constraints (natural resources, historic resources, environmental resources, maintenance, etc.):

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

Describe any alternatives that were considered: